Ski boot heel construction



Sept- 14, l1948Q A. GUINDON 2,449,294

SKI BOOT HEEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 26, 1947 Patented Sept. 14, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT orifice l Arthur Guindon, St. Jerome, Quebec,Canada Application December 26, 1947, `Sel'iallNo. 793,855

The present invention relates to a ski boot heel.

More specifically, this invention relates to a heel, particularly adaptable for ski boots, which consists of `a peripheral heel plate having interior stepped portions for receiving leather inserts, the whole being secured to` the 'footgear by fastening elements which extend through said inserts.

With most footgear, the greater wear and strain takes place at the heel.` It is therefore desirable that the heel should be of the strongest and most durable construction, and should be firmly secured to the sole of the boot or shoe.

In the case of ski boots, the strain and wear on the heelgis ygreatly increased in use, for the harness ofthe vskis is usually secured to the boot by frictional engagement with a` peripheral groove in the heel. Whilst skiing, theharness continually tends to wear away the edges of this groove (and thus destroy the intimate connection between ski boot and ski) and also to loosen the means securing the heel to the boot.

It is also true that normal wear in ski boots, as when walking, tends to erode the bottom of the heel and hence destroy the harness-,engaging lower edge of the groove. In either case, extensive repairs or total replacement of the heel must be carried out after certain use.

'I'he main object of the present invention is to provide an improved ski boot heel, the harnessengaging means of which are adapted to withstand wear either by the harness or in walking.

Another important object is to provide a ski boot heel construction characterized by an irnproved and strengthened connection between the heel and boot.

Yet another object resides in the provision of a ski boot heel construction wherein, even after unduly long wear, only minor repairs need be carried out `to renew the heel.

And still another object resides in the provision of a ski boot heel construction of the char acter described which is simple in design and of light, waterproof construction.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent, or be further pointed out in the description to follow.

As an example, and for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the annexed drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a ski boot fitted with a heel according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a typical plate [comprising the periphery of such a heel;

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal mid-sectional elemr 4 claims. (c1. '3s- 2.5)

Referring now to `the drawing, wherein the y same reference characters denote `corresponding parts throughout, the `heel construction `l-IMof this invention vhas as its main component `a peripheral heel plate indicated atl the sole of a boot AB with which the heel is `associated `being shaped suitably to receive this plate whichis held thereagainst by a number of leather pads or inserts '1, 8 Vand 9, these latter being riveted, or otherwise secured,` to the sole Yof `the boot.

Figa 2, 3 and 4 best show` the heel plate 6, Within limits defined by the size of boot B, this plate may adopt various sizes and shapes but-is preferably horseshoe or U-shaped, the roundedl portion constituting the rear thereof, and has `a transverse bar I Il connecting :the ends. The outer surface of the horseshoe plate :comprises the periphery `of the heel and has, accordingly, a groove Il adapted to receive a ski harness extendingfor substantial-ly the `full length therearound. 1

Inside plate 6, the surface thereof is stepped inwardly both from the top and the bottom to receive, respectively, appropriately-shaped layers of the sole of boot B and leather pads or inserts such as 1 and 8. Thus, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, a square-edged ridge or shoulder I2 projects inwardly from the mid portion of the inner surface of the plate for substantially the full distance therearound. Above this shoulder, the U-shaped plate has a vertical inner surface for a short distance and then slopes outwardly as at I3 towards the top. Below the shoulder, the bar IIJ extends transverse the forward ends of the horseshoe, and both the har and plate are provided, on their inner surfaces, with a single outward step I4 in the direction of the bases thereof.

It will be presumed that boot B is provided with a multi-layer sole having at least two ex terior layers such as IG and II at the rear portion thereof, although this need not be true in all cases. Figures 3 and 5 show that the bottom sole layer, I'l, is of reduced dimensions as cornpared with I 6, and is shaped tol iit inside shoulder l2 of plate 6. Sole i6, on the other hand, will rest on top of shoulder I2 whilst the heel portion of the upper of the boot will `abut against, and be received in, the sloping inner surface I3 of the plate. When the latter has been thus positioned against the boot, the nat leather pads or inserts will be packed into place. The smaller insert, 1, is shaped to nt against the lower surface of shoulder I2 whilst insert l will be received in the recess formed between step ill and the bottom edges of plate 6 and bar I0. A heel tread 9, shaped to cover the bottom of the plate, is ythen placed lat the base of the heel and secured, as bymeans of rivets I8, to the inner sole of the boot, By this means the several layers of inserts and soles are all firmly tightened and the composite heel is securely held in place.

It will be preferable that, to avoid sharp cutr-4v ting edges on the heel, bar ID be wedge-shaped `or triangular in section from front to rear. That is, from the flat upper surface which abuts the underneath of sole il, the bar will be inclined from front to rear towards the bottom of plate lE. l

Considering Figure 3, it is apparent how the objects and advantages of this typeof heel construction are realized. Since plate (i may be of some metallic or other durable material, obviously even prolonged wear by the harness of skis will not impair the gripping qualities of groove 8 since the edges of the latter will not erode appreciably. And even when the tread 9 of the heel has become worn frornrwalking and the like, the plate will continue to resist impairing of the heel. Moreover the heel may be completely restored by simply replacing the worn tread thereof. As for the increased strength preventing themharness from pulling the heel off the boot, this is attributable to the fact that the sole of the boot is not secured to the top of the heel, but extends well down into, and forms` part of, the heel construction. Finally, by making the plate out of some light material, for instance aluminum, the heel maybe made as hght 'as those presently in use.

'It will be understood that I do not limit myself tothe particular embodiment of my inven` tion herein shown and described, but that various changes may be made in the size, shape and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A heel construction aixable to the solle of a boot and especially adapted to ski boots, said construction comprising a hard, U-shaped plate adapted to form the heel periphery, said plate recessed in the upper interior portion to receive said sole, a bar across the ends of said plate adapted to abut the sole, said plate recessed in the lower interior portion, packing elements adapted to be fitted into the lower portion of the plate, a tread shaped to enclose the bottom of said plate and bar, Iand means for securing said tread to said sole.

2. A heel construction adapted to be affixed to ski boot soles and comprising: a U-shaped plate constituting the heel periphery, a bar across the ends of said plate adapted to abut the sole of a boot in front of the heel, the inside surface of said plate being stepped inwardly from the top and bottom thereof and adapted to receive the ski boot sole in the upper portion thereof, leatherlike inserts adapted to be packed inside the lower portion of said plate, a heel tread shaped to `enf"- close the bottom of said plate and means forsecuring said tread to the sole yof the boot in order to clamp the composite heel inplace.

43. A heel construction afxable to ski boot soles compris-ing: a U-shaped plate adapted to form the periphery of a heel and having an exterior ski-harnessreceiving groove and an interior shoulder projecting from the mid-portion ofthe inner surface thereoffor substantially the full length there-around, the rounded portion of said` plate constituting the rear' of the heel, a, bar

across the ends of said plate below said shoulder and adapted to abut 'the s ki boot sole, the interior surface of said plate stepped inwardlyV toward the shoulder from the `top and bottom and adapted to receive said ski boot sole in the upper portion thereof, leather inserts adapted to be` packed inside the lower portion of the plate,`a heel'tread 'shaped to enclose the bottom of said plate, and mean-s fo-r securing said tread to said ski boot sol-e to clamp the heel in place. g

4. In a ski boot heel` construction as claimed in claim 2, said plate having a ski-harnessrey ceiving groove' extending around the Vperiphery theneof. i f

v ARTHUR GUINDON. 

